partisan sniping and a clear sign that talks on averting the so-called fiscal cliff and preventing a big tax hike for everybody are going backwards fast. just listen to the democratic senate leader talking about the speaker of the house today. >> i don't understand his brain, so, you should ask him. >> reporter: president obama and speaker boehner spoke by phone last night in a call sources tell abc news was blunt and unproductive. both men refusing to give ground on the issue of tax rates for the wealthy. obama insisting they go up, boehner insisting they don't. >> listen, this is not a game. jobs are on the line. the american economy is on the line. this is a moment for adult leadership. >> reporter: and taxes aren't the only sticking point. republicans are demanding the president come forward with a plan to limit spending on medicare and social security, something many democrats say is just not acceptable. >> i didn't have my own card with me. jill wouldn't let me have one. >> reporter: vice president biden got into the act today, too, taking a break from christmas shopping and sn